Split Personality in Susan Coolidge's What Katy Did

Abstract

This research aims to trace the representation of split personality in Susan Coolidge’s novel What Katy Did. From the beginning of the novel, it shows the divided attitudes of the characters. Katy, the protagonist of the novel, from her childhood, wants to be mother for her siblings although she herself is child to be mother for them. Katy’s aim to be mother, dream of doing something grand with her life and her dream of being like Miss Nightingale are the main causes of her split condition. She has many responsibilities to her family but when the chance came she generally forgot to do so. These kinds of confused mind lead her to the split condition. In the same way, the other characters Dr. Philip Carr, Aunt Izzie, Cousin Helen, Cecy Hall, Elsie Carr, Dorry and Johnnie also represent split condition because of their ambitions.